It can be tough to stay organized when you’re your own boss. If you’re used to working for someone else, then it might be a big change for you to manage and prioritize your own work and schedule. So here are my top 5 tips that I use to help myself stay organized.
Create a routine
I have started creating a routine for everything I do. From my morning routine, creating a podcast episode, cooking my favorite meals to what I do before I go to bed. Not only does this help me organize my day, but it also gives me a sense of predictability that helps with any anxiety you might have about being a business owner. When everything feels like it’s up in the air, your routine can help make life feel a bit more under control.
Try not to multitask
I am so guilty of this. I just from task to task and my brain can start overlapping projects. I’ve found that I am way more organized when I work on one task at a time. I can focus all my attention on what I’m doing instead of juggling 5 different projects.
Write A List Of Your Tasks For The Day
I really wasn’t a list maker when I was younger. I wrote my ideas down in a more stream of consciousness and it worked for a while…until I became my own boss. That free form way of thinking is great for my creative projects, but not so great for organization. You can use a variety of different tools to keep track of your lists but I usually prefer the notes app on my MacBook or Asana. Let’s be honest, there’s something so satisfying about checking off those tests on your to-do list!
Make sure your workspace is clean
There’s nothing more distracting than a messy and unorganized workspace. Have you heard the phrase “messy desk, messy mind”? Well, there might be some truth to that. Before you jump into any of your projects, tidy up your desk and your office. Trust me, you’ll feel refreshed and ready to tackle those tasks since you’re not working about the mess around you.
Organize your email into folders
If you’re like me, your email can get overwhelming pretty quickly. You hit that refresh button each morning and more and more emails pour in….and so does the anxiety. Even if I have tons of emails in my inbox, organizing them into folders really helps me mentally organize them and even put them in priority or time-sensitive folders so I don’ forget to respond. Take half an hour this week and create folders for the different types of email you receive. Once you do that initial organization, it will become second nature to sort them from then on.
